Washer Toss – Let’s Play

Washer Toss is a very simple game, toss a washer into hole, score points and repeat. So simple, yet so fun and challenging. The game has a lot of variations in both game set up, scoring and rules.  There are many variations of the game its origin is unknown.  One origin story is from Indiana (old pioneers tossing washers from wagon wheels) and another is from Texas (dudes working on oil rigs and tossing those washers). The game has a lot of names, Pitching Washers, Tossing Washers, Washer Toss, Washers, or Washoes.  Each name creates a slightly different game.  Variations include a long board with three hotels in it, another version is a board with a hole in it and finally, a box with a PVC pipe in the middle of the box. Typically the box is lined with carpet, but some people put sand in the box to speed the play of the game up.  

Either way, the game is a tailgating favorite, no matter which of the versions you enjoy playing the most.  For those of you that have not picked up a washer and tossed it, check to this out and come play with us.  

Sign up here for the upcoming Western Washer Toss Association’s SoCal Washer Toss League

The remainder of this post will discuss the Washer Toss game with boxes containing a PVC pipe in them like the picture above. The West Coast Washer Toss Association plays exclusively with standard boxes lined with a thin carpet.

Game Play

The object of the game is to earn points by tossing metal washers, usually around two inches in diameter, and 1/8 inch thick, toward a hole, usually denoted by a cut piece of PVC pipe mounted in the center of the box.  Washer pits and boxes vary in size and shape, but a standard for one-hole washers is 16 in × 16 in × 4 in, with a piece of PVC pipe int he middle with a 4½ inch diameter.  Each player (or team if playing doubles) toss 4 washers per round.

Setup 

• The boxes shall be placed between 21’ feet apart (Front Edge to Front Edge)
• The boxes shall be placed on a level surface
• There shall be no obstructions between the boxes
• The Washers shall be 2” in diameter and weigh approximately 46-50 grams
• The PVC pipe in the middle shall have a 4.5” diameter

Play 

• Each Player or Team should select 4 Washers of same color or design
• Each player (if teams, the team shall designate one player) shall throw two washers, the player with highest score shall go first (if no player scores, the single washer closest to any part of the box shall be counted as the winning throw).
• The team that won the honors to go first shall begin the game by throwing a washer at the opposite box (the player’s feet must stay behind the front edge of the box on their side.
• The players then alternate throwing washers until each player has thrown their four washers.

Scoring

• A washer that remains in the center PVC pipe is worth three points (a ringer), a washer in the box is 1 point, a washer that balances on the edge of the box is worth 2 points.  
• The players on the other side count the points, and the player or team with the most points in that round win the round and have the honors to go first in the next round.
• Prior to the game, the teams should decide on Rally Scoring or Cancelation Scoring.  Rally scoring counts every point and makes games quicker.  By way of example, if Player 1 scores 1 ringer (3 points) and one in the box for 1 point and Player 2 scores 2 ringers (6 points) the score of the round would be 4 to 6.  In cancelation scoring, the points cancel each other out, for example, if player 1 gets a total of 5 points and player 2 has a total of 4 points, then player 1 would carry forward 1 point ( 5 – 4 = 1)

WINNING – The player/team to reach or exceed 21 points first wins the game.

The Western Washer Toss Association (WWTA) has hosted multiple tournaments in the past (Check this out for how to run your own tournament) and is opening registration for the 2021 season (details here) and the end of the 2021 season, there will be a summer SoCal tournament.  Please click here. If you are looking for washer toss here, check these shirts out here.

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